Tied in first place, Chinese and Korean cuisines have emerged as Vietnam’s favorite international dishes, according to a survey from one of the world’s fastest growing online travel agents, Agoda.

The diverse flavors of Vietnam’s northern neighbor, China split the top-slot with the ever-popular Korean cuisine in Agoda’s international food survey. Japanese and Thai food came up next in the rankings.

Interestingly, Vietnam’s love for all things Vietnamese, including their own cuisine, was apparent in the survey as some respondents opted for “Other, please specify” with comments such as “Vietnam ngon nhat!” instead – highlighting just how dearly people here hold their native fare.

Enjoying local food is a great way to travel and experience a country’s culture. Agoda shares places Vietnamese travelers can visit for an ultimate foodie holiday experience.

Chinese

With Vietnamese families filling dim sum restaurants every Sunday, experience authentic dim sum culture in Southern China in Guangzhou or Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s Tim Ho Wan is often known as ‘the world’s cheapest Michelin starred restaurant’ and has gone on to franchise its fare around the region. Still, the authentic experience is unchanged at its Sham Shui Po home, accessible from the stylish Dorsett Mongkok Hong Kong.

Beijing’s signature dish – Peking Duck – is the house specialty at Siji Minfu Restaurant. Sprawling Beijing can take some navigating, so why not stay at the nearby TianAn Rega Hotel while you get your fill.

For those looking to spice things up a bit on their trip to China, Sichuan cuisine is famed for its heat. Check out The Temple House in the province while you explore this amazing area and its cuisine.

Korean

While we can all thank Psy for putting Gangnam on the tips of our tongues, it’s time to get the taste of its cuisine on the tips of travelers’ tongues. Korean BBQ outlets such as Saebyukjib, Parkdaegamne, Gombawui, and Nongoljip abound in the upscale district in Seoul. The well-connected Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam is the perfect base for your explorations.

An entirely different experience with Korean cuisine can be found further south in Korea’s seaside city, Busan, with its many food markets and access to abundant seafood. Try some fresh hoe (thinly sliced white fish) at the Jagalchi Fish Market, or dig into a hearty bowl of dwaeji gukbap, a milky broth with pork and vegetables. Make Arban Hotel your home in Busan for a few nights.

Japanese

Jiro is not the only one who dreams of sushi; most visitors to Japan take the chance to savor the nation’s signature dish. For those who want Master Jiro to prepare it himself, book well ahead, and locate yourself close to his subway-station eatery in bustling Ginza, Tokyo. The stylish Hotel Sardonyx Tokyo puts you in the heart of Japan’s kitchen-action.

Famed as the home-of-ramen, the Sapporo region in Hokkaido is a must-visit for noodle-lovers. Soak in the breathtaking mountainous surrounds at Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei, take a dip in your private onsen, before heading out for that piping hot bowl of ramen.

Foodies who are all about the street food experience will find plenty on offer in Osaka, from takoyaki (octopus balls) to kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers). Stay at the Namba Oriental Hotel near Dotonbori and you won’t go hungry!

Thai

Thai food will delight your palate with its varying sweet, spicy and sour flavors. Feast like a king on contemporary Thai Food at Baan Suriyasai in Silom, Bangkok, where they prepare dishes using techniques handed down from the Thai royal court. Silom offers countless hotel options at all budgets, but perhaps check out the ultra-modern Pullman Bangkok Hotel G.

Northern Thai cuisine is an altogether different experience, with dishes that are milder and less spicy than the south. When taking a break from trekking the serene, temple-laden mountains of Chiang Rai, check out the town’s eateries for Khao Soi, egg noodles in coconut-based curry and Sai Oua, Northern Thai sausages. The Grand Vista Hotel Chiangrai is an ideal spot to base yourself as you taste-buds go on a spiritual quest of their own!

* Survey was conducted by independent market research firm, YouGov Singapore. Total sample size was 1,018 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 5 to 8 April 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and representative of Vietnamese adults (aged 18+).